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Intercultural Action for Peace and Justice Update
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Paulette Sankofa, W A M M
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Intercultural Action for Peace and Justice began as a collaborative project in the summer of 2003. From the very beginning, the goal of this two-year project has been to strengthen the leadership and constituency of W A M M and grassroots community participants by fostering a supportive, affirming, and inclusive environment for local human rights, peace, and justice work. Critical attention is given to the interconnections of poverty, racism, militarism, and war. This has included increasing WAMM’s antiracism work, intercultural critical dialogue, knowledge sharing, and relationship building between individuals and communities in the peace and justice movement and broader community.
Last summer’s pilot project activities were hosted at Seven Bridges World Market in northeast Minneapolis. The workshops were arts-based, including storytelling, visual arts, theater for social change, spoken word, and other arts.
In September, W A M M hosted an antiracism retreat. Forty-five W A M M leaders and constituents took part in two days of sessions facilitated by Erika Thorne (Future Now), in conjunction with Eleni Roulis (Chair, Critical Pedagogy Department, University of St. Thomas), and Vivian Jenkins Nelson (InterRace). During the retreat, we examined how the group understands key language of the WAMM mission statement including “justice,” “military madness,” “in solidarity,” “nonviolence,” “feminist,” and “peace.”
Justice
Those in attendance felt that WAMM members are clearly aware that the cry “no justice, no peace” impels us to reconsider that peace must come from justice, fairness, equality, and respect. For example, racism in the criminal “justice” system—including injustice toward people of color in arrests, convictions, sentencing, and the death penalty—must be eradicated if we are to establish peace.
Military Madness
The group felt that it is critical that WAMM continue to clearly articulate what military madness means. Through the lens of intercultural action, the definition that emerged is “rich, white, patriarchal structure that uses young people of color (men and women) to do their dirty, destructive work.” That system is supported by other systems such as prison, education, and the military. These systems work together to take away opportunities for people of color and the poor.
In Solidarity
Being in solidarity with other organizations and communities with common goals then takes on new meaning because of the systemic issue of military madness. The building of relationships and coalitions is vital because if there is “injury to one there is injury to all.”
Nonviolence
As a nonviolent organization, we need to challenge—on every level—the mindset that violence is acceptable, from the military, to politics, to personal lives. Competition can be another manifestation of violence that pits us against one another.
Feminist
Because we are also a feminist organization, it is key that we understand the dynamics of racism within our culture, organization, and the peace movement. Another key concern is that there are significant numbers of young women who do not identify with the term feminist and have no understanding of the feminist movement. Many felt that this might be a part of the evolutionary process and that we have to revision and re-imagine the language to connect with today’s women.
Peace
In looking at the concept of peace, the historical point is that the women who developed the mission statement purposely omitted the word peace. It was felt that it was too ambiguous and “mushy.” In addition, the fact that there could be no peace without justice rang clear. However, WAMM has been and is still understood to be a vital part of the peace movement.
Partners in the Intercultural Action for Peace include the following: North Regional and Webber Parkway Public Libraries in north Minneapolis, Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC), Black Storytellers Alliance, Bauknight and Associates Architects, College of St. Catherine’s Diversity and Democracy Initiative Committee, Insight News, Hennepin County Child Teen Checkups Program, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, and University of St. Thomas Critical Pedagogy Doctoral Program (Department of Education).
We would like to thank the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, Otto Bremer Foundation, and Frances A. Blake and Ralph R. Blake Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation for their support of the Intercultural Action for Peace and Justice Project. |
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W A M M Action
This season, give the world the gift of peace!
Celebrate the holidays with W A M M!
Celebrating Kwanzaa
Friday, December 19, 2003
6:30 p.m.
De La Salle High School
100 De La Salle Drive, Mpls.
Donation $3.00
Join WAMM for an evening of spoken word, music, and peacemaking in our community, plus vendors, food, and fun! FFI: 612-827-5364.
Sponsored by the Women Against Military Madness Intercultural Action for Peace Project and the following partners: Black Storytellers Alliance, College of St. Catherine’s Diversity and Democracy Initiative Committee, Insight News, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, University of St. Thomas Critical Pedagogy Doctoral Program (Department of Education). Special thanks to the Otto Bremer Foundation, Headwaters Fund, and Community Solutions Fund.
Protest to End the Occupation of Iraq
Saturday, December 20, 2003
1:00 p.m.
Hennepin and Lagoon Aves., Mpls.
Send an antiwar message for the holidays! Protest to end the occupation of Iraq and bring the troops home. Sing alternative antiwar carols to holiday shoppers in Uptown. Sponsored by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition. FFI: info@antiwarcommittee.org or 612-379-3899.
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© 2003 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete December 2003 - January 2004 Index - click here
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